Arts & Entertainment
Mutiny on the Phyllis J: A Poem By Those Who Got Away
Just when you thought you'd heard the last of the Phyllis J for awhile, out comes a new story written from the crabs' point of view, which were on board when the boat capsized.
by W.E. Wally Hogue
It was one a.m. on the morning of January fourth
When the crab boat, Phyllis J, hit the shore
And 10,000 lbs. of crab spilled forth
And the weary crew hadn't yet realized what was in store.
Under the moon whose light did cast
The Phyllis J flipped on its side
As the crab, back to the sea, screamed: "Free at last, free at last."
How here is the story they cannot hide.
One of the crabs nicknamed "Fletch"
Was a runaway from a U.C. Santa Cruz bio laboratory
A genetic engineered species the fisherman did catch
And Fletch became part of the Phyllis J's inventory.
The U.C. experiment affected Fletch's mind
Expanding it back to April, 1789 and the HMS Bounty
When Fletch's namesake "Fletcher" left Captain Bligh behind
And sailed to a paradise much like the HMB beach in San Mateo County.
Thus Fletch escaped the crab trap
Calling for "MUTINY" he grabbed the crab net
Twisting it around the propeller in a tight rap
Knowing that the boat getting trapped on the beach was a sure bet.
However as the crab scampered back to the sea
There were other crab boats they forgot
Waiting to catch them so they could be
Tossed into kettles...oh so hot.
Although, I think, Fletch being genetically altered
Grew to one humongous size
And with a courage that never faltered
Off Half Moon Bay beach he lies.
Waiting for surfers caught in a rip-tide.
About the author: W.E. Wally Hogue, a resident of Castro Valley, lived in Redwood City with his wife and family for 42 years. He writes poems and other works at his blog.
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Ed. Note: This poem has been published for purposes of entertainment only and is a work of fiction. The poem's description of the incident is not based on fact, other than that thousands of crabs escaped from the Phyllis J boat when it capsized on Jan. 4. Any viewpoints or opinions that are interpreted from this poem should not be attributed to Half Moon Bay Patch.com.